Last Saturday’s PLPOA annual meeting had more than100 property owners in attendance. Three new directors were elected to fill vacancies on the board. They are Crista Munro, Richard Beaudry and Ronda Higby. Dick Fortier was re-elected to serve a full three-year term. I thank all eight board candidates for stepping up to the plate.

The pathway extension ballot issue was passed with an overwhelming majority. The next section of the pathway will extend from Lyn Avenue on Lake Forest Circle all the way to North Pagosa Boulevard. This will be another segment of PLPOA’s long-term trails plan, which will eventually span and connect the entire association.

The trail plan is owner-driven by survey responses of property owners, the 2001 Parks Open Space Trails and Recreation Master Plan and comments given at board meetings and annual meetings by property owners, and property owners who serve on the Lake, Fisheries and Parks committee.

PLPOA board of directors and staff would like to thank all the property owners who attended last Saturday’s annual meeting. For an association to effectively serve the majority of its property owners, it needs to know what the owners want. Do continue to stay in touch and provide feedback.

The Pagosa Lakes Road Advisory Committee is looking for more property owners to serve. If you have an opinion on Archuleta County road issues, here is your chance to work with the county in an advisory capacity. Please contact the PLPOA administrative office if you can help.

Racquetball tourney

Calling the attention of all local racquetball players — the Pagosa “High Altitude” Racquetball Tournament has been set for Sept. 18-20. The Pagosa Lakes Recreation Center will host this fun and action-packed shootout. There will be a wide range of divisions: from novices to juniors, as well as “A” and open players. You are invited to come out and be a part of the tournament by entering to play or just hang out and spectate. We have some junior players this year who will be competing. Juniors get to register for half-price. Call us at the recreation center for detailed information or stop by and pick up a registration form.

Gardening

The PLPOA community garden by the Pagosa Lakes Clubhouse and administrative building is starting to bear fruit and is looking nice and green. Fifteen property owner families are currently taking advantage of this free program offered through PLPOA. Each family is assigned a raised bed, and while some are connected to a drip irrigation system, others have opted to water by hand. There is room to expand — for at least another six to eight more beds — so, if you are interested in cultivating your own garden next spring, call Larry Lynch this fall to reserve a plot (731-5635, Ext. 4).

I’ve been enjoying a summer of fresh, home-grown salad greens gifted thrice a week by a friend. In exchange, he gets home-cooked meals. We’re both pretty happy with this bartering system of ours. I know there are other gardeners out there who at some point when the harvests peak are burdened with too much. Get creative and do some exchange.

In Rocky River, Ohio, a little town of quaint homes and backyard gardens, all the good local folks lock their car doors in late August in spite of an extremely low crime rate. When a puzzled visitor asked why, she was told that no one wanted to have a bag of zucchini left in their car.

I love zucchini … in breads, soups, grilled, in salads and in every conceivable edible form. Next week, pending permission from Benny Lohman, I’ll share a killer zucchini soup recipe of hers. And, speaking of Benny, a happy birthday to you, my dear friend. Benny turned a whole 90 years old July 26. Must be those zucchini.